of cleveland



March 1, 1932. C, F, REYNOLD-S 1,847,785

BUCKLE Filed May 13, 1930 Patented Mar. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES CHARLES E. REYNOLDS, or CLEVELAND, omo, AssIGNoR -To yTHE EEEBHARD MANUf EACTUEING COMPANY, or CLEVELAND, omo, A CoEPoEArIoNoE omo..

BUCKLE Application led Hay 13,

This invention relates to an improvement 1n buckles, 'and more particularly is for that type of buckle in which the bailV or tongue L member ofthe buckle acts as a clamping lever i" for the free end portion of the strap to which the buckle is applied. More especially, the buckle constitutes an improvement on the buckle shown in Patent No. 1,358,991, dated November 16, 1920,' to W. A. Schleicher.

In the Schleicher patent there is disclosed a buckle intended tov be formed primarilyof a. malleable casting. provides a buckle which may be formed of cast metal, but which is particularly intended to be economically manufactured lfrom sheet metal by stamping. 1`

The invention may be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 represents aplan view ot'- the buckle apart from the strap;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof; Figure 3 is a view similar` to Fig. 1 showing the manner of attachment of the strap to the buckle; and f Y Figure 4 is a4 transverse section on substantially the plane ofline IV-IV of Fig. 1.

The buckle comprises a framemember 2 and a bail member 3. The frame member 2 has parallel side bars Vl with downwardly turned flanges 5 in each of which is a holeA 6. The side bars 4 are connected at the front of the buckle by the serrated bar 7 and at the n back of the buckle by the back bar 8. They are also connected by a top bar 9 which is in la plane above the back bar, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. V

By reference to Figure 4, it will be seen that the top bar 9has a convex undersurface 9a, while the back bar 8 has a convex upper surface 8a. The serrated bar Tis preferably flat. The whole frame member 2 as described is formed from a single piece of sheet metal. The bail member 3 is also formed from a single piece of sheet metal.

The bail member 3 has a bail bar l0. side bars 11, and a front end bar 12 which is turned upwardly to provide a. lip which cooperates with the serrated bar ,7. In forming the bail a part of thefmetal from which the The present invention 1930. semi No. 451,888.

bail is formed, lying between the side lbars 11, is turned back over the main portionfo'fl the bail bar providing a rounded surface 'at 10a and providing a double thickness of metal forreinforcing'the bail bar. NaThe bail bar 554 has reduced end portions l()b passing through the opening 6 and providing trunnions or a pivotal support for thebail member.

By forming the bail bar as herein described, Y the bail bar is not only reinforced to a very considerable extent, but the rounded surface 10 prevents any cutting of the loop of the strap passing around it. This is indicated in Fig. 4 wherein the strap 13 passes around the bail bar, forming a loop 14 which is stitched across at l5. Were the bail member to be formed of sheet metal and the metal not folded back, a sharp edge would be presented to the loop which would eventually cut the strap. Moreover, the width of the bail bar can be reduced because of the greater strength provided by the double thickness of metal.

By convexing the top bar 9 transversely, the sheet metal bar is greatly strengthened and at the same time the end of the strap engaged by the buckle, after being pulled up y between the front bar 12 of the bail and the serrated bari, can be pushed under the top bar very easily, the rounded surface tending to readily guide the end of the strap under the top bar. Likewise, the rounded top of the back bar reinforces the buckle and at the same time keeps the edges of the bar substantially out of Contact with the strap so that the edgesV of the'cross bar will not cut into the strap.

The construction of the bail, and the construction of the body ofthe buckle both permit the buckle to be formed economicall of sheet metal and vet provide a buckle w ich is strong and which will not cut the strap.

I claim:

1. In a buckle, a frame, a bail memberpivotally supported in the frame formed of sheet metal and having a bail bar, side bars and a front bar, the metal of the bail bar being rolled over upon itself to reinforce the same and provide a rounded surface for engagement with the loop of a. strap when the strap is secured thereto.

2. In a buckle, a frame member formed from asingle piece of sheet metal having side bar portions with downwardly turned flanges, each of said anges having a hole therein, a front bar connecting the side portions7 a back bar connecting the side portions, the back bar being ifna planebelow the front bai', a top bar connecting the side portions and beincr in a plane above the front bar, said top barlbeing Y' transversely iviedjand'a bail -"member formed v"from :asi'gle 'pieoefl sheet metal comprising a bail bar having extensions engaging in the holes in the said side flanges of4v f the frame and having a vthickness of metal folded back upon itself to'reinfrloe the =same' and I'providef a rounded strap engaging surface. Y v

'In testimony whereof I have hereunto set Inyhand.

CHARLES t 

